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WHY! 



Woodrow Wilson Should Re- 
^^ ceive the Undivided Support 

/ /l ^(j/YxJl--n\J''t' ^^ Every Jew in America. . . . 






'J<J^ u- 



A Symposium of Accomplishments, 
Appointments, Friendly Acts Per- 
formed and Humane Treatment Ad- 
vocated for the Jewish Race Here 
and Abroad by the Wilson Admin- 
istration 



. ant 




HON. WOODROW WILSON 
President of the United States. 



PREFACE. 



Having a competency in a business way, the inspiration of 
this volume does not come from the alluring promises of any 
political party, as I am not courting favors from either ; but 
it emanates from a keen sense of gratuity for what has been 
accomplished, and I submit this acknowledgment without 
hope of fee or reward save the consciousness that I am aiding 
and assisting my brethren. 

In presenting this to my people I do so with the hope that 
the many reasons herein advanced why we should support 
the Wilson Administration in the coming campaign may 
reach the conscience of those who love and live for the 
emancipation of the Hebrew race. 

Of all nations in ancient times, the Hebrews approached 
the nearest to the possession of the eternal principles upon 
which liberty rests. They were made acquainted with the 
existence and the omnipotence of the Creator. From Him 
they received the law to be holy and perfect. They rose with 
David to the heights of penitence and prayer; they lifted 
their voices with Isaiah in preparing the glory of the Lord ; 
they shouted praises with Daniel in foretelling the endless 
majesty of His Kingdom. At this latter date, buffeted upon 
the billows of contemptuous commercialism, yet in fulfill- 
ment of the prophecy, they arise equal to the occasion and 
accept Woodrow Wilson as the Moses to lead the children of 
Israel from 'neath the yoke of bondage and oppression still 
bourne in European countries. 

With absolute faith, fidelity and love for the man justified 
by a predicated past, I respectfuly dedicate to him this 
volume. 

JOS. A. WILNER. 



'.T 



Compiled by 
JOSEPH A. WILNER 

Washington, D. C. 
lillG. 



WHY! 



WOODROW WILSON SHOULD RECEIVE THE UNDI- 
VIDED SUPPORT OF EVERY JEW IN AMERICA. 



"Take heed to thyself lest thou make a covenant with the 
inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a 
snare in the midst of thee" — forewarns the Hebrew law. 

The ritual of time-honored customs and obedience to the 
divine precepts, from which source came the law, presents 
to the American people the commendable fact that there is 
no "Jewish Vote." 

The Jews are strictly nonpartisan. Like all intelligent 
citizens they use decided discretion in selecting their man 
and vote for the one they believe will serve the country best. 
Notwithstanding the claims of some petty politicians of a 
partisan Jewish vote, it is an absolute fact that the Jews 
stand steadfast, will give their support and always remember 
their friends more so than any other race or creed, particu- 
larly those who have rendered unusual aid and defended 
their cause. 

The famous French attorney, Labori, who defended the 
cause of the martyred Dreyfus, will forever remain immor- 
tal. Count Tolstoi and Gorky, occasional defenders of Jewry 
in Russia, are recalled with admiration and gratitude. The 
illustrious Pontifs, Pope Innocent II, Alexander III and Clem- 
ent VI, who interceded for the Jews throughout their Pontifi- 
cal careers in Spain, Germany and France, and defended and 
protected them during the darks days of barbarity, preju- 
dice and persecution, covering a period of years — their 
benevolent attitude toward the members of the Jewish faith 
will always .live in the hearts of the Hebrew race with loving 
reverence. 

Likewise the name of Woodrow Wilson will forever be a 
household word with every Jew throughout the entire world 
as the emancipator of the children of Israel. This assertion 
is not a mere prediction or a prophecy — it is based on actual 
deeds performed in the recent past. More was done in the 
past three-and-a-half years for distressed Jews abroad by 
President Wilson and his administration than all the relief 
combined during the prior sixteen years, which is the object 
of this pamphlet : to familiarize the Jews with the assistance 

5 



rendered to their oppressed brethren wherever possible by 
the man now before you, of whom it is your sacred duty to 
continue him in the place where his scholarly attainments 
and gentlemanly principles will redound to your pride and 
prestige in the days to come. 

Much more is yet to be done. The opportune time for 
greater accomplishments are at hand. The 1916 Democratic 
Platform proclaims: "At the earliest practical opportunity 
our country should strive earnestly for peace among the 
warring nations of Europe and seek to bring about the adop- 
tion of the fundamental principles of justice and humanity, 
that all men shall enjoy equality of right and freedom from 
discrimination in the land wherein they dwell." 

Our brethren are subjected to cruel oppression and hor- 
rible persecution in some of the belligerent countries, par- 
ticularly Russia, where their sufferings have reached the cli- 
max during the present war; consequently at the close of 
the war, when Peace Treaties are to be signed, where can we 
find a more courageous man, a more determined man, a man 
of deep scholarship and reserved force, a lover of peace, jus- 
tice and humanity to intercede in behalf of our cause and 
solicitate with the powers for the emancipation of the Jews 
from their plight and secure them equal rights, than our 
President and President-to-be, Woodrow Wilson — loyal to 
his pledges, the redeemer of his party's promises, the Prince 
of Peace, the Friend of the Jews. 



NO TREATY WITH RUSSIA UNLESS DISCRIMINATION 
AGAINST JEWISH CITIZENS CEASE. 



July 3rd, 1912, the Democratic National Convention at 
Baltimore adopted a plank, as follows: "We commend the 
patriotism of the Democratic members of the Senate and 
House of Representatives which compelled the termination 
of the Russian treaty of 1832, and we pledge ourselves anew 
to preserve the sacred rights of American citizenship at 
home and abroad. 

"No treaty should receive the sanction of our Government 
which does not recognize the equality of all our citizens irre- 
spective of race or creed, and which does not expressly guar- 
antee the fundamental right of expatriation. The constitu- 
tional right of American citizens should protect them on our 
borders and go with them throughout the world, and every 
American citizen residing or having property in any foreign 
country, is entitled to and must be given the full protection 
of the United States Government both for himself and his 
property." 

Has the Administration lived up to this plank? It has. 
In spite of the powerful influence brought to bear by large 
commercial interests and a subsidized press here and abroad 
which urged that steps be taken for the negotiation of a new 
treaty with Russia, without paying any heed to the Passport 
question, giving as their reason for such stand the resump- 
tion of a large export trade. President Wilson remained firm 
and loyal to his pledge. 

It has been and will be his purpose to see that no treaty 
shall be ratified by the United States with any foreign coun- 
try unless discrimination against the Jews cease. 



8 



PRESIDENT WILSON GUARANTEES CIVIL RIGHTS 
FOR 250,000 JEWS TRANSFERRED FROM UNDER 
THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO THE EXTENDED 
BOUNDARIES OF SERVIA, GREECE AND BULGARIA. 



The war in the Balkan peninsular, which began in Octo- 
ber, 1912, and concluded in August, 1913, has resulted in 
the cession of an immense region formerly belonging to the 
Ottoman Empire, to the Balkan States. In this conquered 
territory over a quarter of a million Jews, exiled by Spain in 
1492, had been residing for more than 400 years, reasonably 
free from harsh discrimination. 

The American Jewry feeling most deeply concerned over 
the lot which may have befell these Turkish citizens un- 
der their new sovereigns, being mindful that the Greek 
Orthodox Church, which is so notoriously hostile to the Jews 
in Russia, is practically the predominating church in the 
Balkan States, endeavored to safeguard their positions by 
having representatives of the American Jewish Committee 
appeal to President Wilson to use his good offices in an effort 
to secure the insertion of a clause in the Treaty of London 
and Bucharest to insure full civil and religious liberty to all 
inhabitants, without distinction as to race or creed. 

President Wilson became deeply interested in the matter 
and promised to give the subject his earnest consideration 
and act at the opportune time. Accordingly, the State De- 
partment instructed the American Ambassador at London 
to express to the British foreign office, the head of which was 
the chairman of the Conference of Ambassadors of the Euro 
pean powers, to wit: That the United States would regard 
with satisfaction any agreement that might ultimately be 
concluded in regard to the settlement of the affairs in the 
Balkan Peninsular of a provision assuring the full enjoy- 
ment of religious and civil liberty to the inhabitants of the 
territory in question without distinction of race or creed. 

The American Ministers accredited to Greece and Monte- 
negro, and to Bulgaria, Servia and Roumania was also in- 
structed to make similar requests of their governments as 
well as the delegates of all countries participating in the 
Peace Conference at Bucharest — to include in the Treaty of 



Peace a special provision guaranteeing to all inhabitants of 
the annexed territory full rights of citizenship without dis- 
tinction to race or creed. 

The earnest efforts of President Wilson is most notewor- 
thy and will forever remain in the hearts and history of the 
Jews as having been successful in safeguarding the liberty 
of 250,000 of their people in according them the full enjoy- 
mentof civil rights and religious freedom. 



10 



PRESIDENT WILSON VETOED THE BURNETT IMMI- 
GRATION BILL ON ACCOUNT OF THE LITERACY 
TEST, JANUARY 28, 1915. 



Extracts from a letter written by President Wilson (then 
Governor Wilson) to Dr. Cyrus Adler, showing his attitude 
towards immigration: 

"This country can afford to use and should give oppor- 
tunity to every man and woman of sound morals, sound 
mind, and sound body who comes in good faith to spend his 
or her energies in our life, and I should certainly be inclined, 
so far as I am concerned, to scrutinize very jealously any 
restrictions that would limit that principle in practice." 

Below we print the literacy clause of the Burnett Bill, 
restricting immigration, which was vetoed by President 
Wilson : 

"The following persons shall also be excluded from ad- 
mission thereto : All aliens over sixteen years of age, physi- 
cally capable of reading, who can not read the English lan- 
guage, or some other language or dialect, including Hebrew 
or Yiddish : Provided, That any admissible alien or any alien 
heretofore or hereafter legally admitted, or any citizen of 
the United States, may bring in or send for his father or 
grandfather, over fifty-five years of age; his wife, his 
mother, his grandmother, or his unmarried or widowed 
daughter, if otherwise admissible, whether such relative can 
read or not ; and such relative shall be permitted to enter. 
That for the purpose of ascertaining whether aliens can 
read, the immigrant inspectors shall furnish with slips, of 
uniform size, prepared under the direction of the Secretary 
of Labor, each containing not less than thirty nor more than 
forty words in ordinary use, printed in plainly legible type in 
some one of the various languages and dialects of immi- 
grants. Each alien may designate the particular language 
or dialects in which he desires the examination to be made, 
and shall be required to read the words printed on the slip 
in such language or dialect." 

In vetoing this measure. President Wilson said : 

"Restrictions like these, adopted earlier in our history as 
a Nation, would very materially have altered the course and 



11 



cooled the humane ardors of our politics. The right of 
political asylum has brought to this country many a man of 
noble character and elevated purpose who was marked as an 
outlaw in his own less fortunate land, and who has yet 
become an ornament to our citizenship and to our public 
councils. The children and compatriots of these illustrious 
Americans must stand amazed to see the representatives of 
their Nation now resolved, in the fullness of our own Na- 
tional strength and at the maturity of our great institutions 
to risk turning such men back from our shores without test 
of quality or purpose. It is difficult for me to believe that 
the full effect of this feature of the bill was realized when it 
was framed and adopted, and it is impossible for me to assent 
to it in the form which it is here cast. 

"The literacy test and the tests that accompany it consti- 
tute an even more radical change in the policy of the Nation. 
Hitherto we have generously kept our doors open to all who 
were not unfitted by reason of disease or incapacity for self- 
support or such personal records and antecedents as were 
likely to make them a menace to our peace and order or to 
the wholesome and essential relationships of life. In this 
bill it is proposed to turn away from tests of character and 
of quality and impose tests which exclude and restrict, for 
the new tests here embodied are not tests of quality or of 
character or of personal fitness, but tests of opportunity. 
Those who come to seek opportunity are not to be admitted 
unless they have already had one of the chief of the oppor- 
tunities they seek, the opportunity of education. The object 
of such provisions is restriction, not selection." 

President Wilson vetoing the bill was an act for which 
the Jews in particular should forever feel grateful. Had 
this bill become a law it would have worked considerable 
hardship upon the immigrant and would have debarred a 
great number of literates in spite of the fact that 85 per 
cent of the Jewish immigrants can read Hebrew or Yiddish. 
Fifteen per cent of the literate class at least, being agitated 
and in an excitable state of mind, would have become con- 
fused and fail to pass the test, the penalty for which would 
have been deportation. 

As a rule the Jewish immigrant, fleeing from a country 



12 



where he is constantly aggrandized by carpet-baggers and 
freebooters from the highest government official down to 
the petty police officer, with thoughts of loved ones behind, 
in most cases destitute, suffer a mental agony that wholly 
unfits one for an educational test of any description, to say 
nothing of the horrors experienced crossing the border 
(especially from Russia) which fills one with despair. 

It is hardly fair to subject an immigrant to a rigid exam- 
ination, unless he is in a composed state of mind, cool and 
collected. 

The Jewish immigrant upon reaching our shores, after 
experiencing the rudeness of steamship agents, lingering in 
port for weeks prior to the ship's departure, suffering the 
hardships of a steerage, cognizant of the possibility of be- 
ing refused to land, doubtful as to his relatives or friends' 
ability to meet him, reach the immigration inspector in a 
state of mental aberration that completely unfits him for any 
test whatever, though he may be everything desired of one 
agreeable as a citizen. Such conditions are responsible for 
at least 15 per cent of our brethren failing to satisfy our 
immigrations officers, and consequently deported, while in 
every other respect they are desirable. 

This document is of further importance to the Jews be- 
cause of the contents therein, and the reasons cited by the 
President for vetoing the bill are facts concerning and 
alluding to the Jews only, wherein he said: 

"For the new tests here embodied are not tests of quality 
or of character or of personal fitness, but tests of oppor- 
tunity. Those who come to seek opportunity are not to be 
admitted unless they have already had one of the chief op- 
portunities they seek — the opportunity of education," which 
is aimed with reference to the Jews who are denied the right 
of education in some of the lands from whence they come. 




HON. ROBERT LANSING 
Secretary of State. 



15 

WHAT THE WILSON ADMINISTRATION DID FOR THE 
JEWS OF PALESTINE. 



(Data furnished by the State Department, upon request, June 2G, 1910.) 

Among the first to suffer from the gigantic struggle now 
raging in Europe were the Jews of Palestine. The greater 
part of them being dependent upon the benevolence of their 
co-religionists in Europe for their maintenance. With the 
outbreak of the war, not only was their source of supply 
simultaneously cut off, thus affecting their economical con- 
dition, but the Turkish program adopted for the consolida- 
tion of the Empire included a mandate that all Jewish sub- 
jects of the countries at war with Turkey must, within a 
short specified period, be deported or expelled. 

The expulsion began in October, 1914, by debarring and 
exiling three hundred and fifty unfortunate Jewish families, 
compelling them to return to Russia. The Colonists, most 
of whom were not Turkish subjects, have suffered from vio- 
lence, pillage and incendiarism, leaving entire communities 
in misery, famine and destitution. 

A great calamity to befall Israel in the land of their 
fathers ! The cry of distress reached the ears of the Amer- 
ican Ambassador, the great philanthropist, Henry Morgen- 
thau, and like Queen Esther who hurried to the Persian 
King, risking her life in order to save her people from de- 
struction, he hastened and appeared before the Turkish 
Ministry and demanded in the name of his Government that 
the atrocities committed upon the defenseless Jews be 
stopped, and further pleaded with the Government not to 
expel Russian Jews, but, instead, allow them to become 
Turkish citizens. 

Accordingly, on November 26, 1914, the State Department 
at Washington received assurances from the Turkish Gov- 
ernment that it would not expel the alien Jews from her 
domain, but would permit them to become naturalized Turk- 
ish citizens, and that the officials in charge of the territory 
where outrages occurred had been punished by removal. 

The State Department informed the American Jewish 
Relief Committee that 6,000 foreign Jewish refugees were 
being provided with transportation to Alexandria, Egypt, 



16 



on the U. S. S. Tennessee, and that large numbers are ex- 
pected, all of whom are in destitute condition, and that funds 
for their relief were urgently needed. The American Am- 
bassador, Henry Morgenthau, cabled to the Committee that 
$50,000 be forwarded to him immediately for the relief of 
starving Jews of Palestine. 

During January and the early part of February, 1915, 
the U. S, S. Tennessee was busily engaged in transporting 
Jews from Jaffa to Alexandria. On February 18, 1915, 
Captain Benton C. Decker, commanding officer of the Ten- 
nessee, reported (in part) as follows, relative to the landing 
of the refugees at Alexandria and the reception given lo 
the Tennessee at that place : 

"1. On arriving inside the breakwater at Alexandria on 
February 17th, it was apparent that there was on foot an 
effort to render the ship honors by the Jewish community. 
Numbers of Jews were on the breakwater and cheered the 
ship as she passed, also a number of boats were filled with 
Jews and officials having duty in connection with the refu- 
gees. A moving picture machine was in operation on one of 
the boats taking a picture of the ship as she moved through 
the water. 

"2. Upon securing to the buoy, Mr. Hornblower, repre- 
senting the Interior Department, came on board with the 
committee and stated that he wanted to take pictures of the 
refugees and their disembarkment and other objects that 
would be of interest to the people here and in other parts 
of the world, showing what the Tennessee was doing. This 
privilege I was glad to accord Mr. Hornblower, with the 
understanding, however, that a copy of all pictures should be 
given the ship for the Navy Department, which he readily 
consented to do. 

"3. The Jewish Relief Committee came on board and 
their representative stated that they desired to present to 
the ship, for the officers and crew, a testimonial of their 
appreciation of the work done in transporting the refugees. 
On account of the limited time that they had to prepare this 
testimonial, and the fact that the ship might never return 
to Alexandria, they requested that I give them an oppor- 
tunity during the evening to present it formally to the ship. 
About ten members of the Committee came on board about 




HON. JOSEPHUS DANIELS 
Secretary of the Navy. 



19 



8 o'clock and were assembled in the Admiral's cabin with 
such officers as were on board. It was my intention to have 
received it on the quarter-deck in the presence of the officers 
and crew, but on account of the lateness of the hour the 
ceremony had to take place in the cabin. 

"4. The testimonial was in the shape of a silver tablet 
of about 5V2 by 8y2 inches, mounted on a black marble slab 
13 by 17 inches. The chief Rabbi of Alexandria presented 
the tablet with a few remarks in French as to the gratitude 
of the refugees and the Committee for the work that the 
Tennessee had done, and that the remembrance of it would 
long remain in the minds of the Jewish people, both by 
those who had been benefited by the work and by the Jews 
as a race. To this I replied, in the name of the officers and 
crew of the ship, that the acceptance of the testimonial was 
a great pleasure ; that the work done by the Tennessee was 
such that we could not take any of their gratitude to our- 
selves personally, though it undoubtedly meant much extra 
work and trouble for the officers and crew. I wanted all the 
refugees to know, and the Jewish Committee to inform them, 
that their gratitude was due to the people of the United 
States, who stood, in this time of great turmoil and upheaval, 
for the interests of humanity. That, in our work, we had 
been constrained by the knowledge that the people of the 
United States desired such efforts made by their repre- 
sentatives, wherever they might be. Later I had the pleas- 
ure of showing the chief Rabbi about the ship and pointing 
out to him the organization that we had followed in assign- 
ing the refugees to quarters on the ship, and he expressed 
himself as very much pleased with the manner in which 
they had been cared for and the kindness of their treatment. 

"5. During the evening the French Consul called on 
board officially, to express his thanks for the treatment that 
had been accorded French citizens, and to inform me that 
he had reported the work done by the Tennessee to his gov- 
ernment and that he had been directed to extend to me the 
thanks of the French Government for the work done by the 
Tennessee. I informed him that I would report the matter 
to the Government, and I knew that the Government would 
be pleased at the recognition of the work done by the Ten- 
nessee. He remained on board and was present at the pre- 
sentation of the testimonial by the Committee." 



20 



During the summer of 1915, a serious question arose as 
to what could be done for a large number of Jewish refugees 
who had gathered at or near the various Turkish seaports, 
as the Egyptian Government refused to permit any more 
to be brought to Egypt and the Turkish Government threat- 
ened to have these Jews placed in internment camps unless 
they left Turkey immediately. Finally, arrangements were 
effected by the American Ambassador at Constantinople, 
Henry Morgenthau, under which these refugees were per- 
mitted to go to Crete, and on August 26th the work of 
transporting these people was begun by the U. S. S. Chester 
which sailed from Beirut on that date. The Chester was 
assisted in this work by the U. S. S. Des Moines and by the 
middle of September all the remaining Jewish refugees had 
been transported to Crete. 

Relief Ships to Palestine. 

On November 6, 1914, Mr. Glazebrook, the American 
Consul at Jerusalem, cabled to the Department, through the 
American Embassy at Constantinople, that the situation 
arising out of the war prevented remittances being sent 
from Europe for the Jews in Palestine, that the extent of the 
suffering among the poorer members of this race was with- 
out precedent, and that even the prosperous farmers and 
planters were destitute because of the lack of an outlet for 
their products. The Consul concluded with an appeal to the 
citizens of the United States to render all possible assistance 
towards the relief of the extreme destitution prevalent in 
Palestine. 

The Department at once communicated the contents of 
this cablegram to Mr. Louis Marshall, President of the 
American Jewish Committee, who in reply requested the 
Departmnet to inform him "whether protection from 
belligerent nations can be assured for food shipped to Pales- 
tine, including assurances from Turkey against requision- 
ment by it of cargo when delivered." 

In order to obtain the information requested by Mr. Mar- 
shall, the following cablegram was sent by the Department 
on December 5, 1914, to the American Ambassador at Con- 
stantinople : 

"American Jewish Committee is considering advisability 




HON. HENRY MORGANTHEAU 
Former Ambassador to Turkey. 



of sending ship with provisions for relief of destitute of 
Palestine. Please ascertain from Turkish Government 
whether it will grant permission for supplies to be landed in 
Palestine and distributed under American supervision, and 
whether it will guarantee not to requisition said supplies. 
An early reply is requested." 

The Department also sent the following telegram to the 
American Ambassadors at London and Paris: 

Please ascertain from foreign office whether (British or 
French) Government will grant free passage from America 
or neutral port to some port in Palestine of ship or food and 
other supplies furnished by the American Jewish Commit- 
tee for the destitute of Palestine, these supplies to be dis- 
tributed under the supervision of Americans." 

After considerable negotiation, the necessary consent was 
obtained from the British and French Governments, and 
also satisfactory guarantees from the Turkish Government. 
The Turkish Government later agreed to exempt the relief 
supplies sent to Palestine from the payment of custom 
duties. 

The question of securing a proper ship to transport the 
relief supplies to Palestine was for a time a matter of great 
difficulty. The problem was finally solved by Mr. Josephus 
Daniels, Secretary of the Navy Department, who gave to 
the Jewish Relief Committee space on the U. S. Collier, 
Vulcan, which sailed from Philadelphia for Syrian ports on 
March 14, 1915. 

Mr. Lewis H. Levin, of Baltimore, was sent with the 
Vulcan by the American Jewish Relief Committee to aid 
in the distribution of the food. He was also appointed a 
Special Agent by the Department for this purpose. A full 
description of the work of distributing the relief supplies 
on the Vulcan is contained in a report, dated July 25, 
1915, from Mr. Levin to the Department. The report is as 
follows : 

'Tn Jaffa there was a prolonged negotiation with the au- 
thorities in reference to the waiving of the duty on the 
cargo, and this matter was finally settled through the valu- 
able assistance of Ambassador Morgenthau, with whom 
communication was had by telegraph. 



24 



"On May 6, the unloading of the Vulcan by lighters was 
begun, and this took several days, and it took a number of 
days in addition to haul the supplies by donkey from the 
Custom House to the stores prepared to receive them. 

"As the distribution of the supplies was to be under the 
control of the American Consul at Jerusalem, Dr. Glaze- 
brook took an active part in arranging for the landing of 
the cargo without duty, and also in the appointment of 
committees of Moslems, Jews and Christians who were to 
make the actual distribution. These committees were con- 
stituted either by him or with approval, and they will attend 
to the actual distribution, Dr. Glazebrook, however, main- 
taining supervision over them and having the final authority 
in all matters involved. 

"A concession was also gotten from the railroad which 
used to run between Jerusalem and Jaffa. A good deal of 
transportation will have to be done either by donkey or 
camel. Owing to the number of camels required by the mili- 
tary authorities, transportation presents unusual difficulties. 

"The American Consul at Jerusalem is prepared to dis- 
tribute any funds that may be sent him, whether for par- 
ticular individuals or institutions, or for general relief. He 
has this work well systematized and is willing and able to 
take charge of any relief funds that may be sent." 

Medical Supplies for Palestine. 

June, 1915, Henry Morgenthau, American Ambassador 
at Constantinople, at the request of the State Department, 
purchased a supply of quinine and forwarded it by the U. 
S. S. Tennessee to the health bureau at Jerusalem. Later in 
the year the Department, at the request of the American 
Consul at Jerusalem, arranged for the shipment to that 
place of a supply of anti-meningitis serum from the Rocke- 
feller Institute for Medical research. 

Transmission of Funds for Relief of Jews in Palestine and 
Other Portions of Turkey. 

An important part of the work of the Department in be- 
half of members of the Jewish race has consisted largely in 
the transmission of funds to, and for the relief of, members 
of this race in Palestine and in various other sections of 
the Turkish Empire. On account of the many difficulties 



and obstacles imposed by the war, the Department has been 
obliged to resort to various methods and expedients to secure 
the transmission and delivery of these funds. A large part 
of these funds were transmitted through American Am- 
bassador Henry Morgenthau at Constantinople; but on 
several occasions it was found necessary to use the U. S. S. 
Tennessee and the U. S. S. North Carolina to transport 
money from Alexandria, Egypt, and other places, to Pales- 
tine. 

The United States Government has not restricted its 
activities in this line to the transmission of funds from this 
country, but has likewise been ready to assist in the trans- 
mission of funds raised in other countries for the benefit of 
the Jews of Palestine. 

The State iJepartment instructed the American consulate 
at Alexandria to act as a depositary and distribution agency 
for Americans who desire dto send money to their relatives 
in Palestine. 

In February, 1916, space on the U. S. S. Collier, Sterling, 
was given the Central Committee for the Relief of Jews suf- 
fering through the war, and to the American Red Cross, 
for the transportation of medical supplies intended for the 
Jewish hospitals in Jerusalem. 

Petroleum and Other Supplies for Palestine Colonists. 

A prolonged effort was made by the Department to secure 
the consent of the various belligerent governments for the 
introduction of petroleum into Palestine to be distributed 
among the orange and grape growers of the region. On 
April 7, 1915, cablegrams were sent, upon request of Mr. 
Brandeis and Rabbi Wise, to the American Ambassadors 
at London, Paris, Constantinople and Berlin, instructing the 
two former to endeavor to secure the consent of the govern- 
ment to which they were accredited, to the introduction into 
Palestine of twenty thousand cases of petroleum to be dis-' 
tributed to orange growers through the American consular 
representatives, and instructing the two latter to attempt 
to secure guarantees from the Turkish and German govern- 
ments that no part of such shipment should be requisitioned 
for military or other purposes. 



26 



REFUGEES SUBSISTED BY THE NAVY DEPARTMENT 
IN CONNECTION WITH RELIEF WORK IN MEDITER- 
RANEAN WATERS SINCE AUGUST 1, 1914, AS FOL- 
LOWS: 



(Data furnished by the Navy Department, upon request, June 26, 1916.) 

Ship. Period Subsisted. No. of Refugees. 

MEMPHIS— Sept. 3 to 7, 1914, inc 500 (estimated) 

Dec. 26 to 29, 1914, inc 500 (estimated) 

Part of Jan. 29 and 30, 1915.... 26 
Part of Jan. 14 and 15, 1915... 663 
Part of Jan. 18 and 19, 1915.. .1364 
Part of Jan. 29 and 30, 1915.. .1027 
Part of Feb. 16 and 17, 1915.... 674 

CAESAR— Part of July 21 to 23, 1915, inc.. 304 



Total 5058 

SHIPMENTS : 

About Mar. 14, 1915, by Vulcan from Philadelphia, about 
925 tons Jewish Relief Stores (flour, rice, beans, etc.) ship- 
ped by Jewish Relief Association for distribution to needy 
Jews in Palestine, to be landed at Jaffa. 

About March 14, 1915, by Vulcan, $25,000 to American 
Consul in Jerusalem for the Commissary of the Holy Lands 
(expenses of convent of St. Zavior, Jerusalem). 

In November, 1915, about one million Christmas presents 
for children in the various belligerent countries of Europe. 

In February, 1916, 60,000 lbs. Passover cakes, from Louis 
S. Gottlieb, Field Secretary, Hebrew Sheltering and Immi- 
grant Aid Society of America, Washington, D. C, for Alex- 
andria, Egypt. 

In June, 1915, by Chester, 1200 lbs. Absorbent Cotton for 
Syrian Protestant College Hospital, Beirut, Syria. 



27 

WHAT THE WILSON ADMINISTRATION HAS ENDEAV- 
ORED TO DO FOR THE JEWS OF POLAND AND 
RUSSIA. 



The United States Government has endeavored on many 
occasions to assist the Jews in Poland and Russia, equally 
with those of Palestine and in other parts of Turkey, but 
alas, there is between these two countries a great difference 
in the situations which handicapped the United States Gov- 
ernment from exercising its benevolent attitude towards the 
Jews of Russia. In the first place there is a greater number 
of Consular Officers in Turkey which made it possible for 
these officials to be in closer touch with local conditions 
throughout the Empire, and keep our Government informed 
of prevailing conditions, while there are only a few Ameri- 
can Consuls in Russia. Again the existence of extra terri- 
torial rights in Turkey gives the American Government 
much greater rights than we have ever enjoyed in Russia. 

Furthermore, the abrogation of the Treaty of 1832 with 
Russia, placed the administration to a still greater disadvan- 
tage to be able to do anything for our afflicted brethren in 
Russia, however the United States has been continually en- 
deavoring, by appealing to the sense of humanity of the 
principal belligerent powers of Europe to bring about an 
agreement under which relief supplies can be sent to the dis- 
tressed and starving Jews of Poland, and their efforts will 
be crowned with success in the near future. The State De- 
partment has given assistance on numerous occasions to the 
American Jewish Committee and to the Hebrew Sheltering 
and Immigrant Aid Society, who have been engaged in relief 
work in Russia and Galicia. Whether in transmission of 
funds to the thousands of destitute and homeless people, or 
as to inquiries of the whereabouts and welfare of many Jews 
who have their relatives in this country. 

The United States Government is ever on the alert for 
the welfare of the Russian Jews who have suffered from 
the great war more than any other people, whose cry of 
despair has touched the hearts of all Americans and who 
have contributed nobly towards the cause of the down- 
trodden upon the call for aid issued by our great President. 




Ciiurtvxy K re II inn Slur. 

Uncle Sam Responds to the Aid of the Jewish War Suflerers. 



29 



PRESIDENT CALLS UPON THE COUNTRY TO GIVE 
AID TO SUFFERING JEWS. 



President Wilson issued (January 11, 1916) a proclama- 
tion, calling upon the people of the country to contribute to 
the relief of the millions of suffering Jews in the war regions 
of Europe, fixing January 27, 1916, as the day for making 
contributions. It follows : 

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA. 

A PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas, I have received from the Senate of the United 
States a resolution, passed January 6, 1916, reading as fol- 
lows: 

"Whereas in the various countries now engaged in war 
there are nine millions of Jews, the great majority of whom 
are destitute of food, shelter and clothing ; and 

Whereas the people of the United States of America have 
learned with sorrow of this terrible plight of millions of 
human beings and have most generously responded to the 
cry of help whenever such an appeal has reached them ; 
therefore, be it 

"Resolved, That in view of the misery, wretchedness and 
hardships which these nine millions of Jews are suffering, 
the President of the United States respectfully asked to 
designate a day on which the citizens of this country may 
give the expression to their sympathy by contributing to the 
funds now being raised for the relief of the Jews in the 
war zones ; and 

Whereas I feel confident that the people of the United 
States will be moved to aid the war-stricken people of a race 
which has given the United States so many worthy citizens : 

Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the 
United States, in compliance with the suggestion of the 
Senate thereof, do appoint and proclaim January 27, 1916, 
as a day upon which the people of the United States may 
make such contributions as they feel disposed for the aid of 
the stricken Jewish people. 



30 



In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and 
caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. 

Done at the city of Washington, this eleventh day of 
January, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred 
and sixteen, and of the independence of the United States 
the one hundred and fortieth. 

Contributions may be addressed to the American Red 
Cross, Washington, D. C, which will care for their proper 
distribution. 

(Seal.) WOODROW WILSON. 

By the President : 
ROBERT LANSING, Secretary of State. 



31 



"PALESTINE FOR THE JEWS" 

Memorial Sent to President Wilson Asks for Conference of 

Powers to Arrange for Permanent Political 

Home. — Prominent Signers. 



A memorial, petitioning President Wilson to use his good 
ofRces to intercede with the governments of Europe for an 
international conference that will consider the conditions of 
the Jews and their right to a protected political home in 
Palestine, has been submitted to the President by William 
E. Blackstone, of Los Angeles, California. This memorial 
was unanimously adopted at the recent convention of the 
Presbyterian General Assembly at Atlantic City and has 
had the approval and endorsement of eminent statesmen, 
clergymen, philanthropists, financiers, business and profes- 
sional men throughout the land. 

It is believed by Mr. Blackstone, who has long been a 
staunch friend of the Jews, that the imminent outcome of 
the present great cataclysm abroad is a most opportune time 
for the calling of such a conference of the Powers with a 
view to making some satisfactory arrangement for the per- 
manent re-settlement of the Jews in the Holy Land. The 
text of the present memorial follows : 

MEMORIAL TO PRESIDENT WILSON. 

"Whereas, the civilized world seeks some feasible method 
of relieving the persecuted Jew; and 

"Whereas, we recognize the difficulty of harmonizing the 
widely divergent races of the multitudinous population of 
Russia and other nations; and 

"Whereas, the governments of these nations should prop- 
erly resent any foreign interference with their internal af- 
fairs; and 

"Whereas, each of many nations can consistently point 
to the others as evidence that the Jews are not in its domin- 
ion alone oppressed and slaughtered ; and 

"Whereas, the Jewish question is world-wide and demands 
an international remedy ; and 

"Whereas, the environment of the Jew is so fraught with 



32 



alarming danger in many quarters of the world that human- 
ity and the Golden Rule demand speedy action ; and 

"Whereas, the Jews, when expelled from Spain, were 
given an asylum in Turkey and have, since then, until the 
breaking out of the present unprecedented war, received 
such comparatively kind treatment in the Sultan's dominions 
as to give assurance that some satisfactory arrangement 
can now be made for their permanent re-settlement in Pal- 
estine ; and 

"Whereas, a memorial copy of which is attached hereto, 
was presented by Mr. Wm. E. Blackstone in 1891, to Hon. 
Benjamin Harrison, then President of the United States, 
entitled 'What shall be done for the Russian Jews ?' in which 
it was prayed that the good offices of this Government might 
be used to intercede with the Governments of Europe for 
an international conference to consider the condition of the 
Jews and their right to a home in Palestine ; and 

"W^hereas, the remarkable endorsement of the Memorial 
by eminent statesmen, clergymen, philanthropists, finan- 
ciers, the religious and secular press of our country, as well 
as our most prominent citizens, cannot fail to emphasize the 
wisdom of the plan proposed ; and 

"Whereas, the records of the State Department at Wash- 
ington, since the presentation of said memorial evidence 
the devlopment of a rmarkably benign activity on the part 
of our Government in behalf of the Jews ; and 

"Whereas, we deem the imminent outcome of the present 
sad and destructive war a most opportune time for calling 
such an international conference of the powers : 

"Now, therefore, we, the undersigned, representative in- 
dividuals, societies, organizations and public officers in the 
United States, most respectfully commend the Memorial 
aforesaid, and the attached letter of presentation and docu- 
ments attached and pertaining thereto, to the Honorable 
Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States, and offi- 
cers of our Government, for consideration of the action 
therein prayed, and such measures as may be deemed wise 
and best for the permanent relief of the Jews." 

May 8, 1916. 

President Wilson was deeply interested in this memorial 
and promised to give his earnest consideration at the oppor- 
tune time. 




HON. LOUIS D. BRANDIES 
Associate Justice U. S. Supreme Court. 



35 



THE NOMINATION OF LOUIS D. BRANDIES AS ASSO- 
CIATE JUSTICE TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME 
COURT RAISED THE IRE OF THE BIG INTERESTS 
AGAINST THE PRESIDENT. 



The appointment of the Hon. Louis D. Brandies — the great 
leader of his race, Zionist, the IdeaHst, whose loyalty and 
devotion to his brethren is unalloyed, whose activities into 
the Jewish welfare are marked with zeal and sincerity — to 
the highest judicial tribunal in the world, has incurred the 
wrath of the privilege dclass of the big interests against the 
President. 

The fight waged against Mr. Brandies' confirmation, which 
has been conducted with bitterness and passion, was merely 
the under current working against and aimed at President 
Wilson. Had the opposition succeeded in preventing the 
confirmation, Mr. Brandies having come out unscathed from 
the scrutinizing investigation, his character without a flaw, 
publicly and privately would have been bigger and stronger 
as a public man and a jurist, to say nothing of having re- 
ceived the distinction and singular honor of the appointment 
having been made by one of the greatest Presidents of the 
United States. The eloquent eulogy, the tribute paid by the 
President to him, would sufl^ice to more than offset his 
rejection by the Senate. 

But President Wilson, more than any one else, would have 
felt the keenness of disappointment. He would have felt 
doubly hurt. The triumph of his antagonists, the leaders 
of reaction and prejudice whose purpose it would be to check 
progress and give reform a set-back would have been accom- 
plished; besides losing such a valuable addition to the Su- 
preme Court bench. The President knew that he would sub- 
ject himself to criticism and be censured by the big interests 
for nominating a Jew as Associate Justice to the United 
States Supreme Court; but desiring to serve his country best 
he has shown rare courage and selected an eminent master 
of law as well as a man of marked ability, and did not allow 
race prejudice to effect his naming of Louis D. Brandies. 



36 



THE PRESIDENT'S TRIBUTE TO BRANDIES. 

(In response to a request by Senator C. A. Culberson, Chair- 
man of the Senate Judiciary Committee, President Wilson 
has sent the following letter, giving his reasons for nomi- 
nating Louis D. Brandies, of Boston, for Associate Justice 
of the United States Supreme Court.) 



I am very much obliged to you for giving me an oppor- 
tunity to make clear to the Judiciary Committee my reasons 
for nominating Mr. Louis D. Brandies to fill the vacancy in 
the Supreme Court of the United States, created by the 
death of Mr. Justice Lamar, for I am profoundly interested 
in the confirmation of the appointment by the Senate. 

There is probably no more important duty imposed upon 
the President in connection with the general Administration 
of the Government than that of naming members of the 
Supreme Court ; and I need hardly tell you that I named Mr. 
Brandies as a member of that great tribunal only because I 
knew him to be singularly qualified by learning, by gifts, and 
by character for the position. 

Many charges have been made against Mr. Brandeis. 
The report of your sub-committee has already made it plain 
to you and to the country at large how unfounded those 
charges were. They threw a great deal more light upon the 
character and motives with whom they originated than 
upon the qualifications of Mr. Brandies. I myself looked into 
them three years ago when I desired to make Mr. Brandies a 
member of my cabinet, and found that they proceeded for 
the most part from those who hated Mr. Brandies because 
he had refused to be serviceable to them in the promotion 
of their own selfish interests, and from those whom they 
had prejudiced and misled. The propaganda in this matter 
has been very extraordinary and very distressing to those 
who love fairness and value the dignity of the great pro- 
fessions. 

I perceived from the first that the charges were intrinsi- 
cally incredible by any one who had really known Mr. Bran- 
dies. I have known him. I have tested him by seeking his 
advice upon some of the most difficult and perplexing public 
questions about which it was necessary for me to form judg- 



37 



ment. I have dealt with him in matters where nice questions 
and the public benefit, were involved. In every matter in 
of honor and fair play, as well as large questions of justice 
which I have made test of his judgment and point of view, I 
have received from him counsel singularly enlightening, 
singularly clear-sighted and judicial, and, above all, full of 
moral stimulation. He is a friend of all just men and a lover 
of the right, and he knows more than how to talk about the 
right — he knows how to set it forward in the face of its 
enemies. I knew from direct personal knowledge of the man 
what I was doing when I named him for the highest and 
most responsible tribunal of the nation. 

Of his extraordinary ability as a lawyer, no man who is 
competent to judge can speak with anything but the highest 
admiration. You will remember that in the opinion of the 
late Chief Justice Fuller he was the ablest man who ever ap- 
peared before the Supreme Court of the United States. He 
is also, the Chief Justice added, absolutely fearless in the 
discharge of his duties. 

Those who have resorted to him for assistance in settling 
great industrial disputes can testify to his fairness and love 
of justice. In the troublesome controversies between the 
garment workers and manufactures of New York City, for 
example, he gave a truly remarkable proof of his judicial 
temperament and had what must have been the great satis- 
faction of rendering decisions which both sides were willing 
to accept as disinterested and even-handed. 

Mr. Brandies has rendered many notable services to the 
City and State with which his professional life has been iden- 
tified. He successfully directed the difficult campaign which 
resulted in obtaining cheaper gas for the City of Boston. It 
was chiefly under his guidance and through his efforts that 
legislation was secured in Masachusetts which authorized 
savings banks to issue insurance policies for small sums at 
much reduced rates. And some gentlemen who tried very 
hard to obtain control by the Boston elevated railway com- 
pany of the subways of the city for a period of ninety-nine 
years can probably testify as to his ability as the people's 
advocate, when public interests call for an effective cham- 
pion. He rendered those services without compensation, 
and earned, whether he got it or not, gratitude of every citi- 
zen of the State and city he served. 



38 



These are but a few of the services of this kind he has 
freely rendered. It will hearten friends of community and 
public rights throughout the country to see his quality sig- 
nally recognized by his elevation to the Supreme Bench. 
For the whole country is aware of his quality, and is inter- 
ested in this appointment. 

I did not, in making choice of Mr. Brandies, ask for or de- 
pend on "endorsements." I acted upon public knowledge and 
personal acquaintance with the man, and preferred to name 
a lawyer for this great office whose abilities and character 
were so widely recognized that he needed no endorsement. 
I did, however, personally consult many men in whose judg- 
ment I had great confidence, and, am happy to say, was sup- 
ported in my selection by the voluntary recommendation of 
the Attorney-General of the United States, who urged Mr. 
Brandies upon my consideration independently of any sug- 
gestion from me. 

Let me say by way of summing up, my dear Senator, that 
I nominated Mr. Brandies for the Supreme Court because it 
was, and is, my deliberate judgment that, of all the men 
now at the bar whom it has been my privilege to observe, 
test, and know, he is exceptionally qualified. I cannot speak 
too highly of his impartial, impersonal, orderly, and con- 
structive mind, his rare analytical powers, his deep human 
sympathy, his profound acquaintance with the historical 
roots of our institutions and insight into their spirit, or of 
the many evidences he has given of being imbued to the very 
heart with our American ideals of justice and equality of 
opportunity ; of his knowledge of modern economic condi- 
tions and of the way they bear upon the masses of the peo- 
ple ; or of his genius in getting persons to unite in common 
and harmonious action and look with frank and kindly eyes 
into each other's minds, who had before been heated antago- 
nists. This friend of justice and of men will ornament the 
high court of which we are justly proud. 

I am glad to have had the opportunity to pay this tribute 
of admiration and of confidence; and I beg that your com- 
mittee will accept this nomination as coming from me quick 
with a sense of public obligation and responsibility. 

WOODROW WILSON. 




HON. WILLIAM B. WILSON 
Secretary of Labor. 



41 



DEEDS PERFORMED BY WM. B. WILSON, SECRETARY 
OF LABOR, IN BEHALF OF JEWISH IMMIGRANTS. 



(Data furnished by the Dept. of Labor, upon request, June 26, 191G.) 

Wm. B. Wilson, the coal miner, who began work in the 
mines when but nine years old, an immigrant himself, has 
always displayed sympathy with the Jewish immigrants. 
When aliens are adjudged to be deported by the special 
board of inquiry and appeals are taken to the Secretary of 
Labor, Mr. Wilson has never failed to give the immigrant all 
the chances that the law may allow to admit them within our 
borders. In some particular instances, where political refu- 
gees were concerned, and if returned back to their country 
their life would be in danger, the Secretary has always 
granted them the freedom to land. 

During the period of the European War, from August 1, 
1914, to June 30, 1916, approximately 30,000 Jewish immi- 
grants arrived in the United States applying for admission. 
The statistics show that about 61 per cent of this number 
were excluded from admission by the immigration authori- 
ties for the reason that they fell within the class of aliens 
excluded from admission as provided in the immigration 
law. A large proportion of the whole number of Jewish ar- 
rivals came from Russia. The balance came from Austria, 
Greece and Turkey. Most of the aliens who were rejected 
fell within the excluded class known as "Persons likely to 
become public charges." The ultimate decision as to whether 
the aliens are likely to become public charges rests with the 
Secretary of Labor on appeal from the excluding decision of 
the Board of Special Inquiry. In passing upon the appeals 
of these excluded Jewish aliens, the Secretary, rather than 
force them to return to countries that are engaged in, and 
devastated by the great war, especially the Russian Jewish 
immigrants, to whom it would mean imprisonment for life, 
exile to Siberia, or court-martialed, the Secretary ordered 
their admission unconditionally. 



42 



APPOINTMENTS OF HONOR TO JEWS BY PRESIDENT 

WILSON. 



BINNARD, JOSEPH, Butte, Mont., appointed by President, 
United States Land Registrar of Montana, January, 
1914. 

DINKELSPIEL, HENRY G. W., San Francisco, Cal, ap- 
pointed consul for Siam, July 28, 1913. 

DOCKWEILER, ISADORE B., Los Angeles, Cal., appointed 
by President, member Board of Indian Commissioners, 
December, 1913. 

LEDERER, EPHRIAM, Philadelphia, Pa., appointed by 
President, Collector of Internal Revenue for First Dis- 
trict of Philadelphia, November 3, 1913. 

MORGENTHAU, HENRY, New York City, appointed by 
President, Ambassador to Turkey, August, 1913. 

MORRIS, IRA NELSON, Chicago, 111., appointed Special 
Commissioner to Italy in behalf of Panama Exposition, 
November, 1913 ; appointed Ambassador to Sweden. 

PRAEGER, OTTO, appointed by President, Postmaster of 
Washington, D. C, February, 1914. 

STRASSBURGER, MILTON, Washington, D. C, appointed 
by President, one of three Municipal Court Judges of 
District of Columbia, February, 1914. 

STRAUS, OSCAR S., New York City, reappointed member 
Permanent Hague Tribunal of Peace for six years, 
March, 1914. 

STRECKER, CHAS. B., Boston, Mass., appointed temporary 
chairman State Democratic Convention, October, 1913 ; 
appointed by President, Assistant Treasurer of United 
States at Boston, March, 1914. 

VOGEL, MARTIN, New York City, appointed by President, 
to take charge of sub-treasury in New York City, Oc- 
tober, 1913. 



43 



WARBURG, PAUL M., New York City, nominated by Presi- 
dent, as the New York Representative on the New Fed- 
eral Reserve Board, May, 1914. 

WEINSTOCK, HARRIS, Sacramento, Cal., appointed by 
President, member National Commission on Industrial 
Relations, July, 1913. 

DINKELSPIEL, H. G. W., San Francisco, Cal., appointed 
Consul General and Legal Adviser of Siam, May, 1915. 

EINSTEIN, LEWIS, New York, sent by President to Tur- 
key to assist Ambassador Morgenthau, March 13, 1915. 

EISNER, MARK, New York City, appointed Collector of In- 
ternal Revenue for the Third District, March 3, 1915. 

ISAACS, CHARLES, appointed United States Consul at 
Montreal, Canada, October, 1914. 

KAUFMANN, MOSES, Lexington, Ky., appointed Postmas- 
ter, December 31, 1914. 

ROWE, LEO. S., Philadelphia, Pa., appointed by Secretary 
of Treasury McAdoo, to be secretary-general of the 
Pan-American financial conference, May, 1914. 

WARBURG, PAUL M., New York City, appointed by Presi- 
dent, member of Federal Reserve Board, August, 1914. 

WEINSTEIN, MYER, appointed by President, Collector of 
Customs, Buffalo, N. Y., August, 1914. 

BRANDIES, LOUIS D., Boston, Mass., appointed by Presi- 
dent, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme 
Court, January, 1916. 

ELKUS, ABRAM I., New York City, appointed by President, 
Ambasador to Turkey, May, 1916. 



44 



VIEWS OF SAMUEL GOMPERS, PRESIDENT OF THE 
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR. 



"More Progressive Labor Legislation has been enacted 
into Law for the good and benefit of the working class of 
this country in the past four years than ever before in the 
history of the United States." — Samuel Gompers. 

Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation 
of Labor, the head of almost 3,000,000 organized workers, is 
not an advocate of partisan politics, his political policies are 
based strictly upo nthe independent use of the ballot by trade 
unionists. With no party affiliations, his political activities 
are directed to further the cause of Labor and secure hu- 
mane legislation for the benefit of the workers of America. 
He is the author of the famous Slogan used by organized 
labor since 1906, "Reward Your Friends, Rebuke Your Ene- 
mies," which resulted in unparalleled success in obtaining 
remedial legislation for the welfare of the workingman. 

The Democratic Party during the short period of its in< 
cumbency enacted into statutes a great deal of legislation 
beneficial to the laboring class. The Jews are pioneers in 
the American Labor movement since its inception, and the 
Jewish workingmen were equally benefited by the progres- 
sive legislation enacted in the Halls of Congress under the 
Democratic Party. 

The following is the record of labor legislation passed dur- 
ing the Wilson Administration : 

1. Organizations of Labor and Farmers taken from the 
purview of the Antitrust Act. 

2. Limitation of the use and prevention of the abuse of 
the writ of injunction in labor disputes. 

3. Legislation defining and restricting punishment for 
alleged contempts of injunction writs and providing jury 
trial in contempt cases. 

4. Department of Justice prohibited from using Antitrust 
appropriation funds to prosecute labor and farmers' organi- 
zations under the Antitrust Act. 

5. Passage of Seaman's law, abolishing involuntary servi- 
tude, providing better treatment of seamen and improved 
life-saving provisions on vessels at sea. 




HON. SAMUEL GOMPERS 
President of the American Federation of Labor. 



47 

6. Eight-hour law enacted for women and child workers 
of the District of Columbia. 

7. Eight-hour law passed for employes under the Alaska 
Coal Land Act. 

8. Industrial Education provided with appropriations for 
farmers and rural residents under the Agricultural Exten- 
sion Act. 

9. Taylor System, stop-watch, and speeding-up methods 
in United States arsenals prohibited. 

10. Piecework prohibited in Post-ofRce Department, in 
Washington, D. C. 

11. Public construction of battleships, transports and 
other vessels in U. S. navy yards extended. Repairs to ves- 
sels of the Navy to be made in governmental instead of pri- 
vate yards. Steadier work assured to employes of govern- 
ment navy yards. 

12. Senatorial investigation of industrial disputes in coal 
fields of West Virginia, whereby peace was restored; the 
eight-hour day secured; check weighmen provided, and 10 
per cent increase in wages gained. 

13. Compensation for Injuries Act extended to Post-ofRce 
employes. 

14. Special Congressional investigation of industrial dis- 
putes in the Colorado coal fields and the Michigan copper 
region, wherein all of the complaints and charges made by 
the men of Labor against the mining companies and the 
alliance of these companies with the political and military 
powers of the states were officially verified and substan- 
tiated. 

15. The Clayton Anti-trust law which removes labor 
from being a commodity and which puts real teeth into the 
Sherman law and compels big business to use legitimate 
methods. 

16. The establishment of a Department of Labor thus 
giving labor a voice in the councils of the nation through 
the Secretary of Labor. 

17. The Child Labor bill, which prohibits interstate com- 
merce in articles of goods produced by child labor. 

18. Workman's Compensation Bill. 



48 



DWORIM HEYETSIM MIN HALEV NICHNOSIM EL 

HALEV. 

(Words emanating: from the heart penetrates deep into the heart.) 

Fellow Jews : 

We of America whom God has spared from such affliction 
as has overtaken our brethren in Europe, have responded 
with the utmost generosity to the cry of despair from the 
sufferers abroad, but our duty has not ended yet. The noble 
work must go on. Not only is it our sacred duty to extend 
the helping hand for the relief of the persecuted, the home- 
less and starved, whose present sufferings are unparalleled in 
the history of the children of Israel ; but it behooves us to 
take the initiative after this great war, which is proclaimed 
by the parties in conflict to be a struggle for existence and 
justice, to secure that same liberty, civil, political and relig- 
ious rights for the Jews in these countries where they are 
now denied. 

The St. Louis platform has made the first step in this 
direction. It adopted the very plank pledging to give the 
Jews of the world that which they have been trying to secure 
in some countries for centuries — promising the universal 
emancipation of the Jews from their present oppression — 
"that all men shall enjoy equality of right and freedom from 
discrimination in the land wherein they dwell." 

The re-election of President Wilson will bring us direct to 
our goal and will give him a better chance to further redeem 
his party's pledges. To support Woodrow Wilson, who has 
heretofore shown much interest and sympathy towards the 
Jewish cause, without any prior pledges on his Party's part, 
means to give support to this great movement for justice 
and equal rights. To vote for Wilson means to vote for the 
insertion of a clause in the terms of peace at the close of the 
war, guaranteeing the full and absolute civil, political and 
religious liberty for the Jews of Russia and Roumania. In 
due recognition of those things already achieved (as describ- 
ed in this pamphlet), a firm belief in present declarations 
and further action, it is our duty to continue to stand to- 
gether and give our support to a man who is proving to be 
our Redeemer, regardless of his political affiliation. 

Vote for and re-elect Woodrow Wilson President of the 
United States. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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